Joshua 21 24

Joshua 21:24 kjv

Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.

Joshua 21:24 nkjv

Aijalon with its common-land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land: four cities;

Joshua 21:24 niv

Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands?four towns.

Joshua 21:24 esv

Aijalon with its pasturelands, Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands ? four cities;

Joshua 21:24 nlt

Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon ? four towns.

Joshua 21 verses

Joshua 21 24 Meaning

The provided text, "from the tribe of Judah, and from the tribe of Simeon, thirteen cities; and from the tribe of Benjamin, nine cities," summarizes a specific part of the divine land distribution in the Book of Joshua. It details a portion of the inheritance designated for the Levites, who received no tribal land like the other Israelite tribes, but instead received cities and their surrounding pasturelands scattered throughout the nation. Specifically, this description pertains to the cities given to the sons of Aaron, who were a division of the Kohathite Levites, serving as priests. While the overall number of cities received by the sons of Aaron from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin indeed totaled thirteen, the precise distribution of "thirteen cities from Judah and Simeon" and "nine cities from Benjamin" as stated in the prompt's text differs from the specific breakdown given in the biblical narrative. The biblical account allocates nine cities from Judah and Simeon, and four cities from Benjamin to the sons of Aaron (Josh 21:16, 21:19). Regardless of this numerical specificity, the verse underscores God's meticulous fulfillment of His covenant promises to provide for all His people, including those dedicated to His service, and to ensure His divine order was established in the land.

Joshua 21 24 Context

The provided text resides within Joshua chapter 21, which meticulously records the fulfillment of the divine command to allocate cities with their pasturelands to the tribe of Levi (Numbers 35:1-8). Unlike the other eleven tribes of Israel, Levi received no territorial inheritance as YHWH Himself was their portion (Num 18:20, Deut 10:9). Instead, they were dispersed throughout Israel to serve as spiritual instructors, judges, and priests, ensuring that the covenant presence of God and His laws were accessible to all.

Chapter 21 details this precise distribution:

• Aaronic Priests (Kohathites, sons of Aaron): From the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, they received 13 cities. This group, tasked with direct temple/tabernacle service, was strategically placed.
• Other Kohathites: From Ephraim, Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they received 10 cities.
• Gershonites: From Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they received 13 cities.
• Merarites: From Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun, they received 12 cities.

The sum total was 48 cities, including the six cities of refuge, across all the Israelite tribes. The provided text relates specifically to the initial allotment to the sons of Aaron. Historically, the distribution highlighted God's faithfulness in upholding every detail of His covenant, demonstrating that "there failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel" (Josh 21:45). Culturally, this system ensured the Levites' sustenance and integrated their religious service into the daily lives of the various tribes, reinforcing the national covenant identity against polytheistic influences in Canaan. It stood as a powerful counter-narrative to practices where cultic personnel might either be land-rich or totally unprovided for by a deity.

Joshua 21 24 Word analysis

• from the tribe of Judah:
  • from the tribe: (Hebrew: mimmaṭṭēh מִמַּטֵּה) - `mim` is the preposition "from," and `maṭṭēh` refers to a staff, rod, or figuratively, a tribe. It signifies derivation and allocation originating from the territory assigned to the particular tribal group. This denotes an organized and specified division.
  • Judah: (Hebrew: Yehûdâ יְהוּדָה) - One of the largest and most prominent tribes of Israel. It was prophesied to hold the royal scepter (Gen 49:10) and later became the kingdom from which the Messiah would come. Providing cities to the priests from Judah's expansive territory highlighted its centrality and its role in supporting divine service.
• and from the tribe of Simeon:
  • and from the tribe: (Hebrew: ûmimmaṭṭēh וּמִמַּטֵּה) - `û` is the conjunction "and." Repeats the phrase to denote an additional source tribe for the allocation.
  • Simeon: (Hebrew: Šimʿôn שִׁמְעוֹן) - A smaller tribe whose allotted territory was within the borders of Judah (Josh 19:1, 9). Cities assigned from Simeon were often closely associated with those from Judah due to this geographical intermingling.
• thirteen cities: (Hebrew: šǝlōš ʿāśār ʿārîm שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה עָרִים)
  • thirteen: `šǝlōš ʿāśār` - The number indicating the count. As noted, in the biblical record, the number of cities provided specifically from Judah and Simeon to the Aaronic priests was nine (Josh 21:16), not thirteen. The number thirteen is the total cities received by the Aaronic priests from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin combined (Josh 21:4, 21:19). The presence of "thirteen" here might represent a summary or a conflation of data from the wider passage.
  • cities: `ʿārîm` - Plural of `ʿîr` (city, town). These were established population centers, complete with surrounding pasturelands (`migrāšîm`), essential for the Levites' flocks and livelihood. They were not isolated plots but fully functional towns.
• and from the tribe of Benjamin:
  • and from the tribe: (Hebrew: ûmimmaṭṭēh וּמִמַּטֵּה) - Connects this next source tribe.
  • Benjamin: (Hebrew: Binyāmîn בִּנְיָמִן) - A tribe situated in a highly strategic central location, bordering both Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. Its cities were important for trade routes and defensive positions. Historically, its territory contained important spiritual sites like Mizpah and Bethel, and later, Jerusalem partly fell within its bounds.
• nine cities: (Hebrew: tišāʿ ʿārîm תֵּשַׁע עָרִים)
  • nine: `tišāʿ` - The number. In the biblical record, the number of cities provided from Benjamin to the Aaronic priests was four (e.g., Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, Almon, cf. Josh 21:17-18), not nine. The number nine is explicitly mentioned as the number of cities from Judah and Simeon combined for the Aaronic priests (Josh 21:16). This again points to a reordering or re-summarization of the original biblical enumeration in the provided text.
  • cities: `ʿārîm` - Reinforces that the Levites received actual dwelling places among the Israelites.

Words-Group analysis:

• "from the tribe of Judah, and from the tribe of Simeon...": This grouping identifies the geographical origin of the assigned cities. The tribes mentioned are strategically located in the southern part of Canaan. This highlights the inter-tribal cooperation required for the Levites' provision, as well as their scattered distribution for ministry purposes.
• "...thirteen cities; and... nine cities.": The numerical details presented are crucial. They represent specific figures for the division of the land. While the exact allocation presented in this text (13 from Judah/Simeon, 9 from Benjamin) does not precisely match the biblical breakdown for the Priestly Kohathites (which was 9 from Judah/Simeon, 4 from Benjamin, summing to 13), it unequivocally underscores the meticulous and specified nature of God's command for the Levites' sustenance. It is a testament to the divine order in the land division, ensuring every family and lineage was accounted for according to God's precise instructions.

Joshua 21 24 Bonus section

The seemingly redundant naming of "from the tribe" for each instance (Judah, Simeon, Benjamin) emphasizes the legal and official nature of the allotment, grounding it in specific tribal jurisdictions as per the divine and Mosaic decrees. It points to a structured and publicly acknowledged process, avoiding ambiguity in land tenure. The strategic placement of the Aaronic priests within these specific tribes, particularly Judah (from whom kings and ultimately the Messiah would come), allowed them to serve at key religious and political centers as Israel grew. This foresight facilitated spiritual leadership close to the evolving seat of power and population density. The dispersal of the Levites, instead of a concentrated tribal land, meant they were embedded within every community. This model of support for God's ministers, dependent not on land wealth but on the offerings and contributions of the people, serves as a theological foundation for the New Testament principle of financially supporting those who preach the Gospel, highlighting that ministers of God's Word are to be provided for by the community they serve.

Joshua 21 24 Commentary

Joshua 21 documents a significant phase of Israel's establishment in Canaan: the provision for the tribe of Levi. The verse text specifies portions of this allocation, referring to cities granted to the priests, the direct descendants of Aaron. The detailing of these cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin—powerful tribes representing central and southern Israel—underscores God's detailed plan for integrating His servants into the very fabric of the nation. These cities served as living spaces for the priests and Levites, allowing them to perform their religious, judicial, and educational functions throughout Israel, ensuring that God's law and worship were accessible nationwide. The meticulous numerical accounting, even with the numerical differences in the specific distribution as provided in the user's text versus the original Bible account, reaffirms God's covenant faithfulness and precision in fulfilling His promises to Israel and to the Levitical priesthood. It exemplifies God’s order in providing for His devoted ministers and for the spiritual welfare of all His people.